Tag: editorial cartoon

  • Editorial Cartoon: Credit Card ID

    Editorial Cartoon: Credit Card Identification

    First of all, let me give credit to all you who do recurring characters and multipanels.  This took much longer to do than I anticipated.

    Has anyone else had this conversation with a sales person?  I know everytime I have asked the same question, this is the response I get.  My signature has worn off my credit card due to overuse so I am asked for a photo ID frequently.

    Their response to why they need it never made sense to me as the last panel illustrates.  And guess what, they are wrong.

    According to several sources (see Kiplingers, Consumerist), the reason they ask for a photo ID is because your credit card is not valid unless it is signed.  So the merchant is supposed to compare the signature on your license with the signature on their copy of the receipt.  HOWEVER, they never do that.  They always compare the name (not the signature) on the credit card with the name on the Photo ID. 

    Personally I would be happy if all merchants required photo id and matched the credit card against the ID.  However, funny enough Visa and Mastercard discourage merchants from doing so by saying a Photo ID is not a requirement for purchase as long as the card was signed.

    Sadly, with online purchasing, self-service checkout and even digital signature pads (does anyone’s signature look remotely like their real one on those things), the chances for someone illegally using your credit card is rising.  The good news is you are typically only on the hook for at most $50 assuming you report the fraudulent charges in a timely manner.

    Thoughts?



  • Editorial Cartoon: Obama and Clinton

    Editorial Cartoon: Obama and Chelsea Clinton

    I know I don’t post editorial cartoons typically on Friday but this was so timely (thanks Mike) that I couldn’t pass it up before it became old news or someone else shamelessly stole my idea.

    So it seem President Obama has been getting some slack for passing off his press briefings to the Clintons.  Last week it was Bill when discussing the reasons he negotiated the tax cut deal with the Republicans.  And this week he passed off questions on Afghanistan to Hillary.

    I’m all for delegation but he seems to be running out of Clinton options.



  • Editorial Cartoon: Christmas Pariah

    Editorial Cartoon: Salvation Army - The Christmas Pariah

    Every year in the United States, the charity organization Salvation Army has volunteers standing outside of grocery stores and retailers with a red kettle ringing their bell for patrons to donate.  Sometimes I give, sometimes I don’t.  There never is any rhyme or reason to when I do or don’t.

    Last year I saw a client of mine out volunteering so I stood with her for ten minutes as she rang her bell.  I noticed a strange phenomenon.  Most of the people who made eye contact seemed to donate.  However the vast majority chose not to donate and in doing would look down or away as they walked past.  It was as if by looking at the volunteer as they went by they might get some sort of disease.  I got to thinking that I have probably been guilty of the same thing.

    So this year, I made a pledge that no matter if I was planning to donate or not that I would acknowledge every single kettler (I don’t know what they are called so that works for me) and give them a cheery “hello” ….as I then walk on by.

  • Editorial Cartoon: TSA Pat Downs (again)

    Editorial Cartoon: TSA Pat Down

    I actually drew this one last week but it got pushed back.  It is the second of my editorial cartoons on the TSA Pat Downs.   I got to wondering, as embarrassing as it is for passengers, how must a TSA agent feel to have to grope the smelly crotch of some dude who hasn’t bathed in over a week.

    And the results are in and almost 90% of you thought my latest TSA shirt design was appropriate so in honor of your votes, I present the following design available right now on the store on buttons, stickers, t-shirts etc.

    Stop Gate Rape Button

  • Editorial Cartoon: TSA Pat Downs

    Editorial Cartoon: TSA Pat Down

    I have noticed over the last week a sudden uptick in visitors looking at my previous Body Scanner cartoon.  So I thought I would delight them with what turned out to be one of my own personal favorites.

    For those of you who are unfamiliar with the creepy old guy depicted, he is Herbert, the creepy old guy from the Family Guy cartoon.  I was going to have him say something about excusing his shaky hand but thought this was better.

    And of course, I had to jump on the bandwagon with my own “Don’t Touch My Junk” shirt.

    Don't Touch My Junk T-shirt

    Plus right now is a good time to buy this as you save $10 on orders of $50+ in my shop during the CafePress Friends & Family Sale November 20-23.  So shop our store, wacksack.com and use code: Friend10.

    CONTEST:

    Now since our friend Brit is out there with a contest trying to get followers by offering cookies, I thought I would try my own.  The first person to buy the “Don’t Touch My Junk” t-shirt and gets video of themselves going through airport security wearing it will win a $50 Cafepress Gift Certificate that you can use on my store or any other Cafepress store.  (Update: So the wife had a point that it might be against airport regulations to take pictures at security so as not to get anyone in trouble I’m switching things up.  If I get at least 5 people to buy the shirt and send me a picture of them wearing it in a funny situation, I’ll have my readers pick their favorite and that person will win a $50 Cafepress Gift Certificate.)

  • Editorial Cartoon: Facebook and Email

    Editorial Cartoon: Facebook, Email and Privacy

    Here is a potential real FAIL for you.  Facebook has announced that they will now offer email service for it’s members allowing you to send emails to people outside your friend list.  With all the controversy surrounding privacy issues with Facebook, I think I’ll take a pass.

    What embarrassing things could Facebook reveal to your “friends” if this happened?  C’mon you can tell us; it won’t get past this blog.

  • Editorial Cartoon: Pam Anderson and Topless Jewish Men

    Bearman Cartoons Pam Anderson Israeli Fur

    There are times when my humor tends toward a side that may lean toward vulgar; so for those of you offended I apologize.  HOWEVER, in my defense, I use my wife as a litmus test of things that are funny or too risque.  She was all about this cartoon idea when I explained it to her.  So any complaints I will be happy to forward to her.

    It seems PETA spokewoman, former Baywatch star and Playboy model, Pamela Anderson is out to use her “powers of seduction” on the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men of Israel by trying to get them to not block a bill currently being floated by Iraeli lawmakers on banning the trade of fur in the country.  Seems the traditional hat worn by Hasidic men on the holidays is many times made of fur.

    And yes, before the responses come, I know that beavers still have fur.  But saying from “mink to beaver” just wasn’t as funny.

  • Editorial Cartoon: What if Prop 19 Passed?

    Editorial Cartoon on Prop 19 Marijuana California

    So Prop 19 in California FAILED at the ballot.  This was the ballot initiative that would have legalized and regulated marijuana in the state.  The idea being that decriminalizing it would bring in much needed tax revenue and decrease the prison burden.

    Young voters in California appeared to overwhelmingly support the measure, however, they must have been too high to actually go and vote on the issue.

  • Editorial Cartoon: Chili and Schmidt

    Bearman Cartoons - Surya Yalamanchili

    So right here in Southern Ohio, there is a former contestant on the Apprentice and former Brand Manager of Procter and Gamble, Surya Yalamanchili running for Congress against the incumbent Jean Schmidt.  Now I don’t have anything really against Schmidt but in her time in office, I can’t think of one thing she has done except lecture six year olds on abortion.

    Yalamanchili knows people might have trouble pronouncing his name so instead he goes by “Chili” and his website is VoteChili.com.  Now of course, I don’t agree with every stance on the issues  Surya makes but here is one thing that impresses me.  He has refused to accept any money from corporations or PACs (political action committees) in his bid for Congress.  So many politicians talk about “corruption” caused by corporate donations yet not one does anything about it…until now. 

    I also like the fact that just because he is a Democrat, he doesn’t seem to be the type to toe the party line.  In fact, in his debate with Schmidt he said “I’m on the side of the voters of the 2nd District…Both parties have failed America…It’s a system that’s corrupt.”

    Too much of the impasse in Washington is due to line drawing.  Wish you luck Chili (you’ll need it facing an opponent with 5x as much money and who is the incumbent)

  • Editorial Cartoon: Juan Williams Fired from NPR

    Bearman Cartoons Juan Williams Fired from NPR

    Obviously it is newsworthy if I post on a Friday instead of my regular Sunday and Wednesday (did any of you realize I had a schedule?)

    It seems Juan Williams of National Public Radio fame had spent too much time over at Fox News commenting on the news of the day and has now lost his contract with NPR.  For those readers outside the country, NPR is funded in part by the government and some will say it is the only way liberal radio can survive.  Of course Fox News is deemed a branch of the right wing conservative movement so you can see the rub.

    It is interesting that NPR would use the excuse that their reporters and analysts are not supposed to provide personal opinion but rather merely ask questions.  You can make your opinion known simply by editorial decisions on editing, who to interview and how you ask questions.

    In the end, Juan ends up with a $2 million contract from Fox News so we won’t be seeing him on the unemployment line.